| There are different types of blindness, such as partial | | | | Advanced digital technology has made this then |
| blindness, low visual problems, light perception cases, | | | | dream to become a reality at this point in time. The |
| and total blindness. Among the worst ailments | | | | synthetic vision system from the Dobelle Foundation |
| brought about by eye and visual cortex damage, | | | | is now commercially available for $96,000, which is a |
| total blindness is top on the list. Total blindness is an | | | | cheap price for regaining vision and mobility. |
| ailment in which a person has no functional vision | | | | This system uses a brain implant in the actual visual |
| whatsoever. This usually results in serious injuries to | | | | cortex located on the human brain. The electronic |
| the eyes, the optic nerves, and a certain portion of | | | | chip implant is then connected to wires that run |
| the human brain called the functional visual cortex. | | | | down the person's left temple. The wires, in turn, are |
| The damages that have left the eyes beyond repair | | | | connected to an external device known as the visual |
| can be treated with a surgical operation, which | | | | prosthesis. This electronic equipment, which is much |
| replaces the eyes with a new pair. Now, the | | | | like a highly advanced computer, is connected to an |
| effectiveness of this operation is dependent on the | | | | external digital camera by wires. The images that this |
| age of the person at the time the damage was | | | | digital camera captures are processed by its internal |
| inflicted to his eyes. You see, the functional visual | | | | mechanism as digital signals. Since digital signals are |
| cortex located on the human brain has not properly | | | | composed of electronic impulses, these signals are |
| developed yet if the injury was acquired before the | | | | then passed on to the visual prosthesis. The visual |
| age of three, and in some cases, five. But for | | | | prosthesis then processes the signals in such a way |
| persons above this age requirement, treatment | | | | for the actual visual cortex to understand it. The |
| through such a surgical process is highly advised by | | | | processed digital signals are then sent to the brain |
| medical professionals. | | | | implant, and this electronic chip converts it to |
| But for those persons who have inflicted injuries to | | | | electronic impulses which the functional visual cortex |
| the brain, specifically the actual visual cortex, there | | | | was set to understand. |
| has not been a possible cure the medical field has | | | | This process requires a person not to have acquired |
| come up with for quite a long time now. The brain is | | | | the ailment before the age of five. Plus, the |
| a very sensitive organ, and damage to most of its | | | | functional visual cortex should not have been |
| areas would result in improper functioning of motor | | | | damaged during that time, as well as for its current |
| senses and mental activity. | | | | condition. To understand it accurately, keep this in |
| This case has also been true to those with injuries | | | | mind: |
| inflicted on the optic nerves. The optic nerves relay | | | | - our nervous system is a bundle of nerves similar to |
| the electronic impulses sent by the eyes to the | | | | that of wires; |
| actual visual cortex located on the human brain. An | | | | - these nerves rely on electronic impulses that are |
| improperly functioning set of optic nerves would just | | | | sent by body organs to properly do their tasks; |
| jumble the impulses into a jargon of unintelligible | | | | - the brain is much like a computer's central |
| gibberish, or it may not even reach the functional | | | | processor, for it processes these impulses in such |
| visual cortex for that matter. With this, the actual | | | | away that it understands it; |
| visual cortex does not properly receive such | | | | - when it comes to synthetic vision system, the |
| electronic signals, let alone actually reach it, and this is | | | | electronic chip implant and the wires act as the optic |
| one of the main reasons for total blindness. | | | | nerve, the digital camera as the eyes, and the visual |
| But William H. Dobelle has developed a synthetic | | | | prosthesis as an external and primary portion of the |
| vision system through the efforts of the Dobelle | | | | functional visual cortex. |
| Foundation. This private medical organization, founded | | | | But you should also keep in mind that the visual |
| by the man himself, has been continuously producing | | | | prosthesis needs to be pre-programmed to work |
| artificial systems for most internal organ damages | | | | with the actual visual cortex on each person's brain. |
| and motor extremity losses. Yes, this synthetic vision | | | | This is done by conducting tests and optimizations |
| system has been used to treat more than 40 blind | | | | shortly after the electronic chip implant has been |
| persons to date, and has come up with enough | | | | placed in the actual visual cortex through a surgical |
| results for it to be a possible treatment for total | | | | operation. |
| blindness in the near future. | | | | |